London, April 5 – Kelsang Dolma Dodin is running this year’s London Marathon for the Tibet Foundation. Kelsang was born in Ladakh, northern India in 1976. Her interest in sports and music began at an early age and was further developed in the Tibetan Children’s Village (TCV) School in Dharamsala, seat of the Exile Tibetan Administration. The Exile Administration was established soon after the Tibetan leader His Holiness the Dalai Lama fled Tibet in 1959, thousands of Tibetans followed him into exile in India.
As a keen sportswoman now living in London with her husband Thiery, Kelsang felt she could not pass by an opportunity to participate in one of the world’s greatest events. Quite a daunting challenge as the run covers 26.2 miles. Yet, she is looking forward to the big day with determination, “I’m running this marathon because I would like people in the UK to know about Tibet and its situation. Britain has a long historical relation with Tibet in the past. Our leader His Holiness the Dalai Lama has on many occasions visited this country and met its leaders including the late Queen Mother. He is coming here again in May and I am looking forward very much to receiving his teachings and blessing”.
As an active member of the UK Tibetan Community Dance Group, Kelsang will be performing traditional Tibetan songs and dance with her group during His Holiness’ visit to Glasgow in May.
Kelsang has so far raised £1924.00 for the Foundation and is hoping to raise still more before the big day. She says, “I sincerely thank all my sponsors for their generosity and the Tibet Foundation for giving me an opportunity to run this marathon and to raise funds for an excellent cause. I would also like to thank Marie Rabouhans, who ran the Marathon last year for the Foundation, for her enthusiastic support.”
The Tibet Foundation raises funds for various educational and healthcare projects benefiting the Tibetan communities in India, Nepal and Tibet. The Foundation is also helping the Mongolian people in Mongolia to revive their Buddhist tradition.
In the UK, under its Art & Culture programme, the Foundation organises comprehensive Tibetan cultural events. This year, the Foundation celebrates the Fifth Anniversary of the Tibetan Peace Garden, which was officially opened by His Holiness in May 1999. As part of the celebration this May, there will be performances of Sacred Music and Buddhist Chants by the monks of Tashi Lhunpo Monastery from south India and folk songs and music by the Tibetan Institute of Performing Arts (TIPA) Dharamsala in central London.
Kelsang’s run on 18th April marks the first ever Tibetan woman to take part in the London Marathon. She has previously run the Bonn Marathon in Germany.
If you or your friends wish to sponsor Kelsang, please contact Tibet Foundation on +44 (0)207 930 6001 / email: marathon@tibet-foundation.org
To learn more about the work and events of Tibet Foundation, please visit www.tibet-foundation.org
